Merge boot and system partitions

[adavydov7]

@gregrocker: I am in the same boat as this guy, except my system is a laptop with no CD drive. How do I go about reassigning my C: drive as active and primary before proceeding with copying the system files to it? Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start rb: Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, click New, draw a box around full drive map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition and exactly what you want to do with each.

 

[adavydov7]

If you look at those two screens they are just like the OPs. C drive is set as Boot/Logical while D partition is set as System/Primary. I would like to merge the D partition with C but don't have a CD drive in my laptop in order to run the Partition Wizard Bootable CD.

 

[AddRAM]

What I have to ask is, why is the system reserved partition 14.75 GBs ?
14.74 Gbs of wasted space.

 

[adavydov7]

I stared out with a 14gb Recovery Partition, 100mb System Partition, 215gb C Partition, and 8gb Hibernation Partition. I was able to merge the 215gb C and 8gb Hibernation partition (which is now C). I then merged the Recovery Partition and System Partition and assigned it a drive letter so that space could be usable (albeit as a different drive). Now I have two partitions with all usable space, but I just like the look and feel of a single partition so I was seeing what my options were. So, based on what I have read you think its best to just leave it as is and not worth the trouble since all the space is already usable? Thanks for your input!

 

[AddRAM]

With 238 GBs that`s a tough call, you could split it in 2.

1 150 GB partition and a 88 GB partition to store data and a system image on. You would have to do what Greg said in order to acheive this. You could use Partition Wizard, installed on the pc, but I would ask Greg if this safe, as we always boot from the PW Boot cd to alter partitions.

C: has to be made PRIMARY 1st ( very important )

You do not have a disc drive to run the Windows 7 disc to run startup repair to get windows booting again. But as mentioned it can be run from a usb stick, but I have yet to test it with a stick, never had to.

I would just shrink the system reserved partition ( E: in this case ) to 100 MBs, get rid of it`s letter, and be done with it.

Also, do you have the recovery files still on the C: partition ? They are probably useless now and can be deleted. Check with Greg on this to be sure.

 

[edwar]

What I have to ask is, why is the system reserved partition 14.75 GBs ?
14.74 Gbs of wasted space.

Fort some reason he put the System back, OEM reserve, with the Win Sys reserve partition.

I'd start from scratch. But that's just me.

 

[gregrocker]

If it were 100mb I'd say leave it alone but 15gb is more space than I'd want to waste under any circumstances.

First convert C to Primary using Easeus (if it has the option) or Partition Wizard: How to set partition as Primary or Logical.

Next mark C Active so the Repair function knows where to write the System boot files: How to set partition as Primary or Logical.

Now boot into the Win7 installer to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until C wears the System Active labels. The installer and tool to write to flash stick is in Step 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Once C is labeled System Active you can delete the SysReserved partition using PW boot CD which is safest to Resize C to the left into the deleted space. Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help.

 

[adavydov7]

Okay EaseUS wouldn't let me convert to Primary so I DLed PW and converted C to Primary, however when I went on to the next step (mark C active) the Set Active command is grayed out. Is this because the System Reserved Partition (E) is also still marked as Primary? Also as a result of setting C as primary the status of both partitions changed. C is now showing as System and E is showing as Active & Boot. I've attached a screen grab for ease of reference.

 

[gregrocker]

PW reverses the label meaning with System being the currently booted partition while Boot is where the System files reside.

Try applying the step to convert to Primary if you haven't. Then try setting C to Active using PW or in Disk Mgmt. Remember it will not start until you run up to 3 separate Startup Repairs from disk.

This is why we don't delete SysReserved until we know C will boot itself.

 

[adavydov7]

Ok, got it to change to active in Disk Management. Now onto step 3, booting into System Repair. Or do I even need to do that (since C is already showing as System and Active)? This is what I have now (see attachment).

 

[gregrocker]

I just explained that System flag in PW means the currently booted partition, nothing more. The System boot files must still be written to C before it will start or else it is booting from System Reserved. Run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times.

Once C boots and is labeled System Active Boot in PW and Disk Mgmt you can delete Sys Reserved and resize C into the space using PW Resize function. However have your disk standing by because in about 10% of cases it requires repair after resizing on the boot sector.

 

[adavydov7]

Thanks for your help and patience guys. Finally got it all done and combined. Thank you!!

 

[gregrocker]

The screenshot is cut off, perhaps not maximized. Does it say System? Just checking.

 

[adavydov7]

It sure does. Here is the disk mgt capture.

 

[gregrocker]

All good then.

 

[adavydov7]

Yep, thanks for all the help!

 

[AddRAM]

And that`s how a perfectly partitioned C: is supposed to look , excellent job !!!